New Conn. education commissioner visits Windham

WINDHAM, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut's new education chief has made his first visit to the struggling Windham school district, where a special manager appointed by his predecessor is helping local officials overhaul the education system.

Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor met this week with principals and administrators in the blue-collar eastern Connecticut school district, calling its turnaround a high priority.

State officials decided last summer to intervene in the district, citing its budget troubles and lagging test scores among many of its 3,400 students.

They appointed former Hartford Superintendent Steven Adamowski as a "special master" to work with Windham's superintendent, school board and community.

Adamowski, Superintendent Ana Ortiz and others met Tuesday with Pryor.

Ortiz told the Norwich Bulletin that she was encouraged by his commitment to helping Windham boost its students' performance.